From February 21, how will the price of rapid COVID-19 testing decrease?

The Circular applies to the following cases: Payment of SARS-CoV-2 testing costs according to the provisions of the law on health insurance; users of SARS-CoV-2 testing services pay for themselves and cases covered by the State budget according to the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.

Not applicable to the following cases:SARS-CoV-2 testin the community paid for by the State budget.

According to the Ministry of Health, the price structure for SARS-CoV-2 testing services includes 3 costs.

First, the cost of sample collection and preservation, performing and returning SARS-CoV-2 test results.

Second, salary costs according to salary scales, allowances, and contributions according to the regime prescribed by the State for public service units according to the basic salary level for cadres, civil servants, public employees, and armed forces (excluding Covid-19 prevention and control allowances for medical staff and employees).

Third, the cost of SARS-CoV-2 testing reagents is based on actual usage and purchase price according to the provisions of the law on bidding.

From February 21, the payment for rapid Covid-19 testing will not exceed 78,000 VND/test.

Prices for SARS-CoV-2 testing services are as follows:

Price of SARS-CoV-2 testing service in cases covered by the Health Insurance Fund:

SARS-CoV-2 Ag rapid test for single sample: The service price has a maximum payment of 78,000 VND/test. In Circular 16, the price of this service is 109,700 VND. Thus, the new price is reduced by 31,700 VND (about 29%).

SARS-CoV-2 testing using a single-sample automatic or semi-automatic immunoassay machine: Maximum payment is 178,900 VND/test (current price is 186,600 VND).

SARS-CoV-2 testing using Realtime RT-PCR technique:

- In case of application form: Maximum service price is 501,800 VND/test (current price is 518,400 VND).

- In case of pooling samples: Service price includes direct costs, salary costs, and SARS-CoV-2 test reagent costs. In which, the test reagents for reaction are divided equally according to the number of pooled samples. The maximum payment level does not exceed the prescribed pooled sample testing price.

The maximum prices are respectively 223,300 VND (2 sticks), 175,100 VND (3 sticks), 151,000 VND (4 sticks), 136,600 VND (5 sticks), 110,600 VND (6 sticks); 103,800 VND (7 sticks); 98,600 VND (8 sticks); 94,600 VND (9 sticks) and 91,400 VND (10 sticks).